TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
But numbers alone do not explain why people choose Texarkana. “What we hear most consistently is that people are genuinely wanted here, not just recruited,” Sitterley said. “From the first conversation, we are intentional about personal connection and setting expectations that this is not a transactional program.” That distinction matters. REDI… Set…Move was built on the belief that relocation is only the beginning. Community engagement is not optional. It is foundational. Participants are not handed a checklist or redirected to a website. They are introduced to people, institutions, and opportunities on both sides of the state line. “We are clear that REDI…Set…Move is about community engagement as much as relocation,” Sitterley said. “Getting involved locally is not an afterthought. It is part of how participants are selected and welcomed.” That approach is one reason the program has drawn attention well beyond the region. “People are moving to find quality of life and community connection,” said Evan Hock, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of MakeMyMove. “REDI’s talent attraction program sets itself apart by investing in new residents’ success after they arrive. Between the tuition discounts and the local networking, this program is built for long-term impact, benefitting both the mover and the community. That’s why it’s working.” One of the organizations making that long-term impact possible is The Assembly Line, Texarkana’s future creator space, which will serve as a landing pad for new residents and a hub for innovation in the community. Dr. Brandy Eldridge, Director of The Assembly Line, sees the partnership with REDI as a powerful combination of big- picture strategy and personal connection. “The partnership between The Assembly Line and REDI has officially turned Texarkana into a premier talent magnet,” Eldridge said. “While REDI excels at the macro-level of economic development, attracting major industries and building large-scale infrastructure, The Assembly Line is uniquely equipped to focus on the human element, bringing and keeping the talent. Because our mission is centered on innovation and cultivating a vibrant
Dr. Brandy Eldridge, director of The Assembly Line, and Rob Sitterley, president and CEO of AR-TX REDI, are pictured at The Assembly Line, currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2026, representing the partnership driving the success of REDI…Set…Move.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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